章 194: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [194] [100 PS]
Well, well, look at you! So dedicated, you've earned a little extra treat! 🎉
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"You're a god. It's your inherent nature. Why should you measure yourself by the standards set by others?"
"I understand..."
Nahida lowered her head, her voice tinged with melancholy.
"But the previous god entrusted me with the responsibility of guiding Sumeru's people. I haven't been able to meet their expectations... It's my failure as a god."
"But—"
Luo Qing tried to interject, but Nahida cut him off.
"I'll keep learning through dreams here," she said, her tone determined.
"When the day comes that I can truly fulfill my duties as a god... then, Luo Qing, I'll take you on a walk through Sumeru City. Will that be alright?"
"..."
Luo Qing fell silent.
The constant emotional manipulation by the Akademiya's leadership was clearly taking its toll.
They'd been gaslighting Nahida so thoroughly she didn't even realize how deeply she'd been pitted against herself.
Just as he was considering a different approach, the scene around him began to change.
The darkness shattered, and Luo Qing found himself back in the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
"Why did it disconnect?"
Annoyed, he turned to the researcher nearby.
"The transmission device overloaded," the researcher explained, gesturing at the apparatus. The once-vivid green transmission tubes had turned a deep red.
"Overloaded?" Luo Qing frowned.
"Godly consciousness is immensely powerful. The Little Archon experienced a strong emotional fluctuation just now, and the transmission device couldn't handle the surge. That's why it overloaded," the researcher explained while beginning to dismantle the equipment.
"Can't we use it again today?"
Luo Qing's interest was piqued. If Nahida's emotional reaction indicated progress, this was the perfect time to strike while the iron was hot.
"It's not usable anymore."
The researcher shook his head.
"After being overloaded by divine mental energy, this device is probably fried."
He glanced at Luo Qing with a puzzled expression.
A mortal would typically suffer severe backlash from exposure to a god's emotional surge through the Akasha—losing their sanity, rolling their eyes back, or even wetting themselves.
Yet Luo Qing seemed perfectly fine.
"What are you staring at me for?" Luo Qing asked, noticing the odd look.
"N-Nothing."
The researcher quickly shook his head and continued packing up.
"We conduct these communication sessions twice a month. We'll inform you about the next one. For now, you may leave."
"..."
Luo Qing scrutinized the researcher for a moment. They didn't seem to be hiding anything.
Reluctantly, he turned to look at Nahida, still asleep within her containment device, then shook his head and left the Sanctuary.
---
The midday sun blazed overhead as Luo Qing stepped outside.
Remembering Makoto's request to come home early for lunch, he decided to head back.
But as he walked through the plaza near the Akademiya, he spotted someone familiar—Layla.
On the other side of the square, Layla also noticed Luo Qing.
Panicking, she glanced around desperately for a place to hide. However, the open plaza offered no cover, leaving her frozen in indecision.
Her anxious movements didn't escape Luo Qing's sharp eyes.
She wasn't this skittish last time we met. What happened?
Quickening his pace, Luo Qing intercepted her just as she tried to dart toward the Akademiya.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Layla! What a coincidence. Are you visiting the Akademiya too? Did you sleep well last night?"
"Uh... Hello, Mr. Luo Qing. I..."
Layla stammered, her gaze flitting everywhere but at him, her expression uneasy.
"Am I that scary today, Miss Layla?" Luo Qing asked, genuinely puzzled.
The previous night, he'd spent quite some time tickling her inner personality's soles.
Despite the effort it had taken to get her inner self to talk, Layla's dominant personality shouldn't have remembered anything. Had her inner self lied to him?
"N-No!"
Layla quickly shook her head but still hesitated, glancing at Luo Qing with a mix of guilt and nervousness.
"What's wrong, Miss Layla? Are you in trouble?"
"I..."
"Don't hesitate to tell me! As a Matra officer, it's my duty to help!" Luo Qing declared, grabbing her hand enthusiastically.
"Uh..."
After a long moment of hesitation, Layla finally seemed to make up her mind.
"Mr. Luo Qing, could you... let go of my hand first?"
"Oh, right. My bad, I got a little carried away," Luo Qing said, feigning embarrassment as he let go.
Though, in truth, he wouldn't have minded holding her hand a bit longer...
"Hmm..."
Layla rubbed her hand nervously before pulling a small piece of paper from her pouch.
"Someone left this on my desk last night..."
"A note?"
Luo Qing took the paper and unfolded it, reading the large characters scrawled across it:
"Beware of Luo Qing."
"..."
Ding!
[+1 Frustration Value from Luo Qing]
Seriously?
Hadn't Layla's inner self said she wouldn't let the dominant personality know about her existence?
And now she was leaving notes?
As if to drive the point home, a smaller line of text beneath the bold warning read:
"If you don't believe me, check your soles."
"..."
Okay, Luo Qing had to admit, maybe he'd gone a little overboard last night.
It wasn't his fault Layla's inner self had such ticklish feet...
"I..."
Layla's voice trembled, sounding both hesitant and aggrieved.
"When I woke up this morning, my soles were so red..."
The note had terrified her at first. Fearing Luo Qing might have done something inappropriate, she had even checked her body.
But aside from the redness on her feet, there were no other suspicious marks.
"..."
Luo Qing froze, unsure how to respond.
In hindsight, he should've applied some ointment or at least pretended to heal her...
Taking a deep breath, Luo Qing straightened his expression and placed his hands firmly on Layla's shoulders. His tone was serious and sincere as their eyes met.
"Miss Layla, this is a traditional Liyue foot massage technique. It's great for relieving tension and improving sleep. Last night, I noticed you were utterly exhausted, so I decided to help you relax while you rested."
"Miss Layla... you're not mad at me, are you?"
"I..."
---
This bonus chapter is like an encore after a rousing performance—totally worth staying for, wouldn't you say? Oh, and don't worry, my lyre's got plenty more tunes to play next time!
But for now, it's time to take a bow. Thank you for the applause (and all that wonderful support). If you're feeling extra inspired, you know where to find me—[patreon.com/WiseTL]. Toss a coin, and who knows? Maybe the next bard will sing your praises!
Now, go forth, Traveler, and revel in the wonders of this world. Until next time! 🍃✨
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